Preparation of poly(chitosan-acrylamide) flocculant using gamma radiation for adsorption of Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions

Poly(chitosan-acrylamide), P(CTS-AAm), flocculant was prepared using gamma radiation and used for the adsorption of copper(II) and nickel(II) from aqueous solutions. The effect of reaction parameters, such as acetic acid, monomer and polymer concentrations, and absorbed dose, on the conversion percentage and intrinsic viscosity of P(CTS-AAm) was investigated. The prepared polymer was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared and Thermogravimetric analysis. The factors influencing copper(II) and nickel(II) adsorption on P(CTS-AAm), such as contact time, solution pH, polymer and metal ion concentrations, were also studied. The sorption capacity of P(CTS-AAm) was 196.84 mg/g and 63.15 mg/g for Cu(II) and Ni(II), respectively.